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The incidence of disease at different point in history, and in different communities, is affected by lifestyle, access to healthy infrastructure, emerging pathogens, and new treatments. In this unit students will explore both the disappearance of certain diseases thanks to antibiotics and vaccines (strep and polio for example), and the emergence or growth of other diseases (such as asthma and diabetes). As a part of this unit, students may review cellular processes such as cell division. Accessing data from maps, graphs, and other non-print texts and using that data to draw conclusions and ask further questions is a key component to this unit.

In this task, students use evidence to identify a patient's mystery illness.

The rise and near eradication of Polio provides an interesting lens through which to explore viral disease, the immune response, and the process of vaccination. In this 5E sequence, students use animations, diagrams, and graphs to explore the characteristics of viral infection and how the immune system responds. In comparing Polio and influenza, students have an opportunity to discuss different types of viruses and to dive deeper into antigen/antibody specificity.

Bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses are all examples of pathogens that cause infectious disease. In this 5E sequence, students explore pathogenic bacteria as a cause for illness, through a case study of Tuberculosis. Students may review specific immunity as they discover how bacteria, such as the one that causes TB, disrupts homeostasis in the human body. Additionally, students explore the causes behind the rise of antibiotic resistance.